Children's library service

Children's library service

Search the children's catalogue

Each of the borough's libraries provides a separate collection of children's books and other materials. Fulham, Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush libraries have separate children's areas.

Each library provides books and other material suitable for babies, children and young people up to the age of 17 years. These include story and information books, picture books and board books and spoken word CDs. Children's DVDs may be borrowed by anyone over the age of 12. 

How long can items on loan be kept?

Books and CDs may be borrowed for three weeks. DVD Boxed Sets may be borrowed for one week and other DVDs may be borrowed for three days.  

Are there any charges?

  • Teenagers 12 – 15 years will pay the standard loan charge for DVDs, CDs and overdue charges on all items, including books. Children will be charged for items returned late. Reservation charges apply to all customers. Lost items will be charged for at their replacement cost.

Who can join the library?

  • Any child who lives or goes to school in the borough. All that is required is proof of address and a signature from a parent or carer.

What else is on offer?

  • Summer reading challenges
  • 'Story and rhyme times' for under 5s with stories, rhymes, music and simple craft 
  • Holiday story and craft activities 
  • Author visits and special events
  • After school homework help sessions for children aged 8 to 11
  • Chatterbooks reading groups for children aged 7 to 11
  • Teen reading groups for young people aged 12 to 16
  • All libraries provide filtered internet access for children and a range of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) plus some image-editing software.     

Page last updated: 10/10/2011